Automatic clutch control



A ril 3@, 1935. J, w. COLVIN 1,999,284

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH CONTROL Filed May 31, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.

ATO

Aplriil 3Q), 11935. J. w. COLVIN 3,9992%,

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH CONTROL Filed May 31, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

April 3Q, W35. 'J. w. COLVIN 11999524 AUTOMATIC CLUTCH CONTROL Filed May 31, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNE Patented Apr. 30, 1935 1,999

OFFICE lhilimild dnrolvm'rre moron co James W. Calvin, South Bend, Ind, i to The Studebaker @orporation, Deh'olt, Mich a corporation of New Jersey Application May 311, 1932, Serial No. dllslt l (El. 192-.t1l)

This invention relates to an automatic clutch of the vehicle, and showing the device of the incontrol and particularly to an automatic clutch vention applied to the elements enumerated control for disengaging the main engine clutch b ve. of an automotive vehicle, and has for its prinicpal Fi ure 3 is a transverse sec i l view on the object the provision of control means of the charline 33 of Figure 2 lo k n in the dire tion of 5 acter described for automatically disengaging the the arrows. main engine clutch of an automotive vehicle Fi r 4 is an eleveti nal Vi w Showing a tr ewhenever the vehicle is stopped, mentary portion of the transmission casing and A further object is the provision oi an autoth f -wh clutch as and th d vice matic clutch control for an automotive vehicle of he invention ap d thereto- 10 operatively connected with the brake pedal and Figure 5 is a detailed view of the brake actuwith the driving mechanism f th hi l so th t ated elements of the device of the invention taken the automatic clutch control will be actuated 0n the e o ure 4.'

upon application of the brake and will be oper- Referring to the drawings n e ail, t e huated by the momentum of the vehicle. e e i enera ly d cat s a c ass s frame A still further object of the invention has in mounted upon a front axle 2 and a reel axle 3 the provision of means for causing the automatic by means of vent na ca sp s- The chasclutch control to be operated upon actuation oi. 815 is Supported upon Wheels t, 6 end 17 qu pp d the brake pedal only when the, forward speed of with ak d v c s e a e connected t the 20 the vehicle is below a predetermined limit. nds i a c s er t rotatably mounted 20 It is an additional object of the invention to h ass s f am he n me a 9 ne ally noperatively connect the automatic clutch control dicates an engine and it a clutch and flywheel with the accelerator of the vehicle in such a casing in which is d p sed o engine C utch l. manner that the clutch will be held out of enit generally indicates avehicle transmission hav- .a easement by a locking device which is releasable ns a v r it f m whi h p ts a chan eupon initial depression of the accelerator to perspeed l v r W- The numeral #5 indicates the mit the clutch to engage. casing of a free-wheeling clutch operatively con- It is another object of the invention to provide nected e we e ans ss on '2 and the formeans for automatically limiting the rate of reward universal joint it. N indicates a brake engagement of the clutch to eflect desirable oper- Ded w c s mounted at One side of the clutch 30 atlng conditions, and it is also an object to procasing t and p rat v y connected with the vide a device of the character described which is c s be h y means Of an adjustable linkage s, simple and economical to manufacture and apand t ndica a ha brake lever p v y ply, and which is of such simple and rugged conc neeted t0 the C ss be t by an adjustable 35. struction that it will not easily get out of order linkage 2 l in i a a clutch p l m n d in service. at one side of the clutch casing ill and operatively Other objects and advantages of the invention connected with the engine clutch M t disen a will appear as the description proceeds. the clutch to release the engine from the re- The accompanying drawings show an acceptmainder of the driving mechanism of the vehicle.

able mechanical embodiment of the idea of the 22 indicates a link member which omprises a 40 invention. The drawings, however, are not to portion of the clutch inter-lock operatively conbe taken as limiting the invention, the scope of nected with the clutch pedal ll and with the which is to be measured solely by the scope of free-wheeling unit it. The free-wheeling unit the sub-joined claims. 1 and clutch inter-lock therefor may be of the type In the drawings: described in the application of Samuel 0. White, 45

Figure 1 is a plan view of an automobile chassis Serial No. 579,246 filed December 5, 1931. The showing the device of the invention applied numeral it indicates a speedometer cable operthereto. atively connected to one end oi a shaft it illus- Figure 2 is a plan view of a somewhat enlarged trated in Figure 3, which is operatively connected scale of a fragmentary portion of an automobile with the driven element 25 of the tree-wheeling 50 chassis showing the engine clutch casing, transclutch by means of a worm it mounted on the mission, free-wheeling clutch housing, forward driven element and a worm wheel tl mounted on universal joint, a portion of the torque tube, a the shaft. fragmentary portion of the main engine clutch, Still referring to Figure 3, it will be observed and a portion-of one of the side frame members that the end of the shaft til to which the speed- 55 ometer cable 23 is connected is mounted in a bearing 29, and that the end of the shaft on the opposite side of the worm wheel 21 extends axially through a cylindrical casing 38 formed on the lower part of the housing l of the free-wheeling unit. Mounted upon the end 3| of the shaft 24 by means of the ring 32 and pivotal joints 33 and 34 is a governor generally indicated at 35 lying wholly within the cylindrical casing 38. This governor comprises centrifugal weights 36 and 31 pivotally connected to the ring 32 at 33 and 34 and resiliently restrained against radially outward motion by means of a circular coil spring 38 lying within a groove 39 provided in the weights 36 and 31 intermediate their lengths.

It will be noted that the ring 32 is restrained from rotation upon the shaft 24 by means of the woodruff key 40 or other equivalent locking means and that the ring 32 is restrained from axial motion upon the shaft 24 by means of spring lock rings 4| and 42 mounted in grooves formed in the shaft. In this form of the device I have shown a fiat bronze ring 43 mounted in the casing 39 opposite the free ends of the centrifugal weights 36 and 31 to provide a limit for radially outward motion of the free ends of the centrifugal weights and to provide a bearing for the free ends of these weights when they are in their outward limiting position. It is apparent, however,

that other suitable bearing structure may be substituted for the bronze ring 43 if desired.

The centrifugal weights 36 and 31 are provided at their free ends with inclined surfaces indicated at 44 which form a hollow cone, and a member generally indicated at 45 having a corresponding frusto-conical face 46 is rotatably and slidably mounted upon the end 3| of the shaft 24. beyond the governor 35. This member 45 is provided with an axial well or bore 41 in which the end of the shaft 24 is telescopically received and with a cylindrical stem or neck portion 46 which extends through a bearing 49 provided in the cover 58 of the cylindrical casing 38, the bearing 49 being provided with a packing ring 5| to prevent escape of lubricant from the casing 38 through the bearing, and with an oil channel 52 for supplying lubricant to the portion 48 of the member 45 which extends through the bearing. The well 41 is deeper than the length of the end 3| of the shaft 24 which projects into it and a coiled compression spring 54 is mounted in the well between the end of the shaft and the bottom of the well. A set screw 55 provided with a lock nut 56 extends axially through the portion 48 of the member 45 into the well 41 adjacent to the end of the shaft 24 to provide a stop to limit axial motion of the member 45 toward the governor 35. This set screw 55 is adjustable axially in the member 45 by reason of screw threads upon the set screw and corresponding screw threads in the portion 48, and the set screw is maintained in adjusted position by the lock nut 56. The member 45 is also provided within the casing 38 with an annular groove 58 in which lie rollers 59 and 69. These rollers are pivotally mounted upon pins 6| and 62, the outer ends of which are secured in a fork 64 which surrounds a portion of the member 45 within the casing 30.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that fork 64 carries the pins and rollers in its extended ends 65 and is provided with anarm 66 terminating in a bearing 61 provided interiorly thereof with screw threads 68. A shaft 69 journaled in a boss 18 formed on the casing 36 extends through the bearing 61 and is provided with screw threads 1| corresponding with the screw threads 48. The end of the shaft 69 opposite the end journaled in the boss 18 is iournaled in a bearing 12 formed integrally with the casing 39, and the shaft is restrained from axial motion by a snap ring 13 mounted in a groove in the shaft. A lever arm 14 is non-rotatably mounted upon the end of the shaft 69 which extends out of the boss 19 and the free end of this lever is connected by means of a pivotal connection 15 with one end of a link member 16, the opposite end of which is operatively connected with the brake pedal H by means of a pivotal connection 18 illustrated in Figure 2, the pivotal connection 18 being provided with an adjusting device 19 for adjusting the length of the link 16. As illustrated in Figure 4, the lever arm 14 is adjustably and non-rotatably secured upon the end of the shaft 69 by means of a stud bolt 89 extending through ears formed upon the split end of the arm opposite the free end thereof.

From this description, it will be observed that axial movement of the link 16 caused by actuation of the brake pedal |1 will rotate the shaft 69 by means of the arm 14, and that rotation of the shaft 69 will cause motion of the fork 64 axially of the shaft 24. This motion of the fork 64 will tend to movethe member 45 axially of the shaft 24 and into contact with the conical surface 44 of the governor 35.

While I have illustrated in Figure 5 and described above, a mechanism for moving the member 45 comprising a rotatable shaft and corresponding screw threads on the shaft and in a bearing formed in a fork operatively connected with the member 45, it will be apparent that the desired motion of the member 45 may be obtained by other equivalent structures.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4,'it will be observed that a lever arm 85 is non-rotatably mounted upon a reduced portion 86 at the end of the portion 48 of the member 45, this arm 85 being adjustably and non-rotatably held upon the reduced portion 86 by means of a bolt 88 extending through ears formed upon a split end of the arm 85. The arm 85 carries at its free end a pivotally mounted block 98 having an aperture therethrough through which extends a link 9|, the opposite end of which is connected to the clutch pedal 2| by means of an axially adjustable pivotal connection 92 illustrated in Figure 2. As further illustrated in Figure 2, the link member 9| is provided at the end extending through the block 90 with spaced abutments 93 and 84 in the form of washers rigidly secured upon the link. These spaced abutments provide a form of oneway or over travel connection for the link II which permits manual depression of the clutch pedal 2| to disengage the clutch without moving the arm 65. It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 2 that the block 96 is pivotally mounted upon the free end of the lever 85 by means of a pin 95 extending through an aperture.

formed in the free end of the lever and that a cotter-key 96 is inserted through the projecting end of the pin 95 to maintain "the block 99 in operative association with the end of the lever 84.

From this description it will be observed that rotation of the member 45 to rotate the arm 85 will force the link 9| forward to automatically depress the clutch pedal 2| to disengage the main engine clutch.

Still referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that I have provided a retarding device generally indicated at 98 to retard the action of the clutch spring in re-engaging the clutch in order to give impasse a smooth starting action to the vehicle. This retarding device comprises, a dash-pot element 99 rigidly'connected to one of the side frame members itil of the chassis frame i by means of bolts it) i. In the arrangement shown this dash-pot 99 is provided with a vertically disposed rotatable shaft I82 upon the upper end of which one end of an arm W3 is non-rotatably secured. The opposite end of the arm mil is provided with an aperture through which extends a pin m5 which passes through an elongated aperture wt in a bracket member Ml which is rigidly secured upon the link 9! as by means of a bolt ltd which tends to securely clamp the bracket it? upon the link 9i.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be observed that in addition to the above mentioned features, I have also provided a locking device for retaining the arm 85 in its forward limiting position until manually released. This locking device comprises a curved arm Md pivotally mounted upon the cover W by means of a bolt iii extending through an aperture provided in the arm flit intermediate its length, the threaded end of the bolt being screwed into a threaded aperture provided in the cover 50. The curved portion of the arm i la extends partially around a boss M5 provided on the cover at in order to provide material for the bearing ii, and at its lower end this arm is provided with a notch ill adapted to operatively engage with a pin lid secured in the portion it of the member db and extending radially outwardly therefrom. A link member ltd has one end pivotally secured to the upper end of the arm lit by means of a pivotal connection iii, the link 0218 extending forwardly over the clutch and fly wheel casing it and having its forward end operatively connected to an arm flit formed integrally with, or attached to, a shaft flit to which the accelerator pedal iii is operatively connected. From the description of this element it will be observed that upon rotation of the member it, the lever arm as will be maintained in its forward limiting position to hold the main engine clutch. depressed until the accelerator pedal of the vehicle is actuated to release the notch Hi from the end of the pin lit to permit the arm 85 to swing backwardly under the actuation of the clutch spring to thereby re-engage the main engine clutch ii.

As one method of illustrating the invention I have shown the casing it formed as an integral part of the casing it of the free-wheeling unit and have shown the cover it secured to the casing it by means of the stud bolts till, it will be understood, however, that various changes in the arrangement and proportion of the elements may be made to accommodate the device to various forms of transmission and propeller shaft structure, and that various mechanical equivalents may be substituted'for the specific elements herein illustrated and described.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: v

First considering that the vehicle is traveling? in a forward direction and is brought to a complete stop by the application of the brake pedal, the operation is as follows: Upon application of the brake pedal the member it is moved inwardly upon the shaft M by means of the device illustrated in Figure 5 and the linkage connecting this device to the brake pedal until the inner end of the set screw it abuts against the corresponding end of the shaft iii. At the same time the governor it is being rotated by the shaft it byreason of the operative connection comprising the worm 26 and worm wheel 27! between the shaft it and the driven element 25. Upon application of the brake the speed of the vehicle will be decreased and as the speed decreases to a predetermined limit, such for instance as ten miles per hour, the centrifugal weights 3t and 31 of the governor 35 will be moved inwardly by the tensional force of the spring 38 until their beveled ends it engage the cone surface of the member d5, whereupon a frictional force will be set up between the governor 35 and the member d5 which will rotate the member to in a direction to move the free end of the arm 85 forwardly against the abutment 93. This forward motion of the arm 85 moves the link 9i forwardly and by reason of the operative connection of the link 9i with the clutch pedal ft the clutch pedal will be depressed thereby disengaging the main engine clutch. In the usual operation of an automotive vehicle, when the brake is applied the foot accelerator pedal is released and this pedal is provided with a spring which tends to return the pedal to a closed throttle position. In the operation of the present device, the force of the spring tending to return the accelerator pedal to closed throttle position will also tend to move the link izil forwardly thereby causing the lower end of the lever lid to tend to move upwardly. When the arm at reaches its forward limiting position the end of the pin lid will then drop into the notch i ii and the arm 85 will be held in its forward limiting position maintaining the main engine clutch disengaged to permit shifting of the transmission gears by the change-speed lever i i.

Considering now that the vehicle has been stopped and the transmission gears have been shifted into first speed ratio, and it is desired to start the vehicle. All that it is necessary for the operator to do is to simply depress the accelerator pedal. The initial depression of the accelerator pedal will move the lower end of the arm flit] downwardly, releasing the end of the pin i it from the notch iii, thereby permitting the arm 8'5 to swing backwardly under the actuation of the main clutch spring to permit the main engine clutch to re-engage. The action of the main clutch spring will be retarded by the dash-pot device 99 to cause a gradual re-engagement of the clutch and consequently a smooth start of the vehicle. Further depression of the accelerator pedal will now increase the speed of the vehicle and from this point the gear shifting is accomplished in the usual manner, manual actuation of the clutch pedal being rendered unnecessary by the inclusion of the free-wheeling device it.

To explain another phase of the operation of the device, let it be considered that the vehicle is traveling at a comparatively high forward speed and the brake pedal is depressed to momentarily slow up the vehicle. If the speed of the vehicle does not drop below the predetermined limit, an example of which has been indicated as ten miles per hour, the centrifugal weights it and ii of the governor it will remain out against the bronze ring it and inward motion of the member it consequent to depressing the clutch pedal will not cause any frictional force to be set up between the member at and the governor it, and in this case the main engine clutch of the vehicle will be inn'o way afiected.

If it is desired to place the vehicle in reverse gear, this operation must be accomplished by manual depression of the clutch pedal 2i and.

.manual operation of the change-speed lever Id. The over-travel on the link 9! between the abutments 93 and 94 is provided to permit manual actuation of the clutch pedal when desired, as for instance when it is desired to reverse the vehicle.

No provision has been made to release the frictional reaction between the governor 35 and the member 45 when the lever 85 has reached its forward limiting position. If the vehicle continues to travel forwardly at a slow speed after the arm 85 has reached its forward limiting position, slip will occur between the governor 35 and the member 45, and the only effect of the frictional force between these two members will be to add somewhat to the bralnng effect upon the vehicle. The adjustable set screw 55 has been provided to take up the wear between these two members incident to such operation.

Having now described my invention so that others skilled in the art may clearly understand the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

What I claim:

1. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, a manually actuated brake and an element driven of the vehicle, of means operatively connected to said clutch and means driven by said driven element, said first means being actuated by said brake to engage with said second means to release said clutch when said brake is applied and the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined limit.

2. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, and a free-wheeling clutch including an element driven by the momentum of the vehicle, of centrifugal means driven by said driven element and clutch means operatively connected with said main eng e clutch manually actuatable to engage with said centrifugal means when the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined limit to disengage said main engine. clutch.

3. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, and a free-wheeling clutch including an element driven by the momentum of the vehicle, of means driven by said driven element, means operatively connected with said main engine clutch manually actuatable to engage with said driven means when the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined limit to release said main engine clutch, and manually releasable means for locking said main engi e clutch in disengaged position.

4. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with an engine, a main engine clutch. a driving mechanism operatively connecting said engine by the momentum said brake and centrifugal clutch with the driving wheels of the vehicle and a manually operable brake, of centrifugal means driven by said driving mechanism, and means operatively connected with said engine clutch actuated by said brake to engage with said centrifugal means to disengage said engine clutch to release said engine from said driving mechanism when the speed of the latter is below a predetermined limit.

5. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, a manually actuated brake, and a shaft driven by the momentum of the vehicle, of centrifugal means driven by said shaft, and means operatively connected with said engine clutch actuated by said brake upon manual application thereof, to engage with said centrifu: gal means when the speed of, the vehicle is below a predetermined limit to thereby disengage said engine clutch.

6. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, a manually actuated brake, ,a shaft driven by the momentum of the vehicle, and an accelerator pedal, of means driven by said shaft actuated by said brake to disengage said engine clutch when said brake is applied, means for locking said clutch in disengaged position, and means actuated by said accelerator pedal to release said locking means to permit said clutch to re-engage.

'7. In an automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, a manually actuated brake, a shaft driven by the momentum of the vehicle, and an accelerator pedal, of means driven by said shaft actuated by said brake to disengage I said engine clutch when the brake is applied, means for locking said clutch in disengaged position, means actuated by said accelerator pedal for releasing said locking means to permit said clutch to re-engage, the re-engagement of said clutch.

8. In an' automotive vehicle, the combination with a main engine clutch, a manually actuated brake, an accelerator pedal, a shaft driven by the momentum of the vehicle, and a speedometer shaft driven by said momentum driven shaft, of centrifugalmeans mounted on said speedometer shaft and driven thereby, means operatively conengine clutch and to said brake actuated by said brake to engage with said centrifugal means when the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined limit to thereby disengage said engine clutch, means for locking said engine clutch in disengaged position means actuated by said accelerator pedal for releasing said locking means to permit re-engagement of said clutch, and hydraulic means for retarding the re-engagement of said engine clutch.

I JAMES W. COLVIN.

and means for retarding 

